The University of Northern Iowa is working to fast-track elementary teacher training through a new three-year degree program, with the goal of getting qualified educators out of college classrooms and into their own more quickly.
UNI announced in a news release it will launch a “Degree in 3” program in fall 2026 that will allow students to earn a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education in three years.
Provost José Herrera said in the release the new initiative “extends the reach” of the elementary education program — the largest major at the university — and upholds directives from the Iowa Legislature for each state university to offer at least one three-year degree program.
“UNI’s three-year degree is a bold response to the state’s demand for teachers and aligns very well with Iowa’s legislative objectives,” Herrera said in the release. “This builds on our legacy in teacher education while providing an alternative for today’s high school students seeking an accelerated path to elementary teaching.”
According to the release, the university expects between 25 and 30 incoming freshmen to make up the first cohort next fall. Of the nearly 2,000 students studying teaching at UNI, close to half choose to pursue elementary education.
Like the full, four-year degree program, the release stated students in the new track will take 120 credit hours to complete their degree, but spread across fall, winter, spring and summer semesters. They will also participate in “an array of in-depth clinical experiences and student teaching.”
Students ready for the more intense program will save time and tuition money compared to going through the traditional degree path, UNI College of Education Dean Colleen Mulholland said in the release. Fast-tracked students will be eligible for scholarships totaling $5,600, the release stated, for summer school tuition and student teaching stipends.
“The combination of less time on campus and added financial opportunities puts students an estimated $70,000 ahead in contrast to a traditional four-year path,” Mulholland said in the release. “We understand the commitment being made by these students, and pledge as well to offer dedicated year-around support in terms of academics, advising, career and wellness support.”